A wireless charging unit for a mobile device unit. The wireless charging unit may include an interface surface for the mobile device unit to be positioned upon, and a power transmitter device configured to transmit power wirelessly to the mobile device unit when the mobile device unit is positioned upon the interface surface to charge the mobile device unit. A switch may be electrically coupled to a power connector plug and configured to disable reception of power by the power connector plug from a power outlet in response to a sensor circuit detecting that the mobile device unit has been removed from the interface surface to a distance.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A wireless charging unit for a mobile device unit comprising: an interface surface for the mobile device unit to be positioned upon; a power transmitter device configured to transmit power wirelessly to the mobile device unit when the mobile device unit is positioned upon the interface surface to charge the mobile device unit; a power connector plug configured to receive external power from an external power outlet for powering the power transmitter device; a sensor circuit configured to: detect when the mobile device unit has been positioned within a distance away from the interface surface, and detect when the mobile device unit has been removed from the interface surface beyond the distance away from the interface surface; a switch electrically coupled to the power connector plug and configured to: enable reception of the external power by the power connector plug from the external power outlet in response to the sensor circuit detecting that the mobile device unit has been positioned within the distance of the interface surface, and disable reception of the external power by the power connector plug from the external power outlet in response to the sensor circuit detecting that the mobile device unit has been removed from the interface surface beyond the distance; and a battery configured to power the sensor circuit when the switch has disabled the reception of the external power by the power connector plug from the external power outlet.
A wireless charging unit powers a mobile device. It has a surface where the device rests. A transmitter wirelessly sends power to the device when it's on the surface, using power from an external wall outlet. A sensor detects when the device is close to the surface and when it's moved away. A switch controls power from the outlet. It enables power when the device is near the surface and disables it when the device is removed. A battery powers the sensor when the wall outlet power is disabled.
2. The unit of claim 1 , wherein the wireless charging unit includes a housing that the power transmitter device, the sensor circuit, and the switch are positioned within, with the power outlet being positioned external to the housing.
The wireless charging unit as described above includes a housing that contains the transmitter, sensor, and switch. The power outlet is located outside this housing. The interface surface is an upper surface of the housing for device placement. The charging unit detects the presence of the mobile device on the upper surface.
3. The unit of claim 2 , wherein the interface surface is an upper surface of the housing.
The wireless charging unit described in claim 2 (a housing contains the transmitter, sensor, and switch, with the power outlet outside the housing) has the interface surface for device placement being the upper surface of the housing. The mobile device rests on the upper surface of the housing for wireless charging.
4. The unit of claim 2 , wherein the switch is configured such that the disabling of the reception of power by the power connector plug from the power outlet by the switch disables any power exterior to the housing from being drawn by the wireless charging unit.
In the wireless charging unit described in claim 2 (a housing contains the transmitter, sensor, and switch, with the power outlet outside the housing), the switch is designed to completely cut off any external power draw by the unit when it disables power from the outlet. No power is used when a device is not detected.
5. The unit of claim 1 , wherein the power transmitter device is configured to transmit power wirelessly to the mobile device unit inductively.
In the wireless charging unit as described in claim 1 (unit with surface, transmitter, sensor, switch, and battery), the transmitter uses inductive charging to wirelessly send power to the mobile device. A magnetic field transfers energy.
6. The unit of claim 5 , wherein the power transmitter device is configured to transmit power wirelessly to the mobile device unit through a magnetic resonant coupling with a power receiver device of the mobile device unit.
In the wireless charging unit as described in claim 5 (inductive charging), the transmitter uses magnetic resonance to wirelessly send power to a receiver inside the mobile device. The transmitter and receiver are tuned to the same frequency for efficient power transfer.
7. The unit of claim 1 , wherein the switch is a latching relay.
In the wireless charging unit as described in claim 1 (unit with surface, transmitter, sensor, switch, and battery), the switch that controls power from the outlet is a latching relay. This type of relay maintains its state (on or off) even without power, reducing energy consumption.
8. The unit of claim 1 , wherein the sensor circuit is configured to detect that the mobile device unit has been removed from the interface surface to a distance away from the interface surface by detecting a variation in inductance of the power transmitter device.
In the wireless charging unit as described in claim 1 (unit with surface, transmitter, sensor, switch, and battery), the sensor detects the mobile device's removal by sensing a change in the transmitter's inductance. The presence of the device affects the inductance.
9. The unit of claim 1 , wherein the sensor circuit includes a capacitive sensor, and the sensor circuit is configured to detect that the mobile device unit has been removed from the interface surface based on a signal produced by the capacitive sensor.
In the wireless charging unit as described in claim 1 (unit with surface, transmitter, sensor, switch, and battery), the sensor uses a capacitive sensor to detect when the mobile device has been removed. The capacitive sensor measures changes in capacitance caused by the presence or absence of the mobile device, generating a signal indicative of device removal.
10. The unit of claim 1 , wherein the wireless charging unit includes a mechanical trigger, and the sensor circuit is configured to detect that the mobile device unit has been removed from the interface surface based on reduced contact with the mechanical trigger.
In the wireless charging unit as described in claim 1 (unit with surface, transmitter, sensor, switch, and battery), there's a mechanical trigger. The sensor detects removal of the mobile device based on reduced contact with this trigger. When the device is present, it presses the trigger; when removed, the pressure decreases.
11. The unit of claim 1 , wherein the sensor circuit includes a radio frequency identification tag sensor configured to sense a radio frequency identification tag positioned on the mobile device unit, and the sensor circuit is configured to detect that the mobile device unit has been removed from the interface surface based on a signal produced by the radio frequency identification tag sensor.
In the wireless charging unit as described in claim 1 (unit with surface, transmitter, sensor, switch, and battery), the sensor uses an RFID tag sensor to detect an RFID tag on the mobile device. The sensor detects removal when the RFID signal disappears, indicating that the device is no longer present.
12. A system for wirelessly charging a mobile device comprising: a power receiver device configured to couple to the mobile device and receive power wirelessly for charging the mobile device; an interface surface for the power receiver device to be positioned upon; a power transmitter device configured to transmit power wirelessly to the power receiver device when the power receiver device is positioned upon the interface surface; a power connector plug configured to receive external power from an external power outlet for powering the power transmitter device; a sensor circuit configured to: detect when the mobile device has been positioned within a distance of the interface surface, and detect when the mobile device has been removed from the interface surface beyond the distance away from the interface surface; a switch electrically coupled to the power connector plug and configured to: enable reception of the external power by the power connector plug from the external power outlet in response to the sensor circuit detecting that the mobile device unit has been positioned within the distance of the interface surface, and disable reception of power by the power connector plug from the power outlet in response to the sensor circuit detecting that the mobile device has been removed from the interface surface to the distance; and a battery configured to power the sensor circuit when the switch has disabled the reception of the external power by the power connector plug from the external power outlet.
A system for wirelessly charging a mobile device includes a receiver that attaches to the device, a charging surface, and a transmitter that wirelessly powers the receiver when it's on the surface. The transmitter gets power from a wall outlet. A sensor detects when the device is close and when it is moved away. A switch enables power from the outlet when the device is nearby, and disables it when the device is removed. A battery powers the sensor when wall power is disabled.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the power receiver device is connected to a mobile device case for covering at least a portion of the mobile device.
The wireless charging system from claim 12 (receiver, surface, transmitter, sensor, switch, battery) has the power receiver attached to a mobile device case, which covers part of the phone. This case enables wireless charging.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the power receiver device is configured to be positioned within the mobile device.
The wireless charging system from claim 12 (receiver, surface, transmitter, sensor, switch, battery) has the power receiver positioned inside the mobile device. The receiver is integrated within the device's components.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the power receiver device is configured to form a magnetic resonant coupling with the power transmitter device to receive power wirelessly for charging the mobile device.
In the wireless charging system described in claim 12 (receiver, surface, transmitter, sensor, switch, battery), the power receiver and transmitter use magnetic resonance to wirelessly transfer power. They are tuned to the same frequency for efficient power transfer to charge the mobile device.
16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the power transmitter device includes at least one wire, and the power receiver device includes at least one wire, the at least one wire of the power transmitter device configured to produce a magnetic field that induces a current in the at least one wire of the power receiver device to transmit power wirelessly to the power receiver device.
In the wireless charging system described in claim 12 (receiver, surface, transmitter, sensor, switch, battery), the transmitter and receiver each contain at least one wire. The transmitter's wire generates a magnetic field, which induces a current in the receiver's wire, enabling wireless power transfer.
17. A method for wirelessly charging a mobile device unit comprising: detecting, by a sensor circuit powered by a battery, when the mobile device unit has been positioned on an interface surface of a wireless charging unit; automatically enabling the wireless charging unit to receive power from an external power source in response to the mobile device unit being positioned on the interface surface, the external power source being positioned external to the wireless charging unit; charging the mobile device unit wirelessly using a power transmission device of the wireless charging unit, the power transmission device receiving power for charging the mobile device unit from the external power source; detecting, by the sensor circuit, when the mobile device unit has been removed from the interface surface to a distance; and automatically disabling the wireless charging unit from receiving power from the external power source in response to the mobile device unit being removed from the interface surface to the distance.
A method for wirelessly charging a mobile device includes a sensor circuit, powered by a battery, detecting when the mobile device is on a charging surface. The charging unit automatically enables power from an external source (wall outlet) when the device is detected. The power transmission device wirelessly charges the mobile device. The sensor circuit then detects when the device is removed. Automatically, the unit disables the power from the wall outlet when the device is removed.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
June 29, 2015
October 3, 2017
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